Biomechanics sports conference brings in people from 28 different countries

Sports researchers, coaches and teachers from around the world head to ETSU this week for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports Conference.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. -

Sports researchers, coaches and teachers from around the world head to ETSU this week for the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports Conference.

"It's great to have the opportunity to take a break, come overseas and meet up with all your friends from around the world," says Elizabeth Bradshaw.

She comes to the 2014 ISBS Conference from Melbourne, Australia. Bradshaw says it took her around 30 hours to get here but the lessons she'll take home are invaluable.

Philip Graham-Smith from England agrees.

"Great opportunity to network with people you've not seen for a year or several years and just to learn more about discipline of biomechanics and how we can apply it to the work we do," says Philip.

Sports biomechanics is the physics of sports, or how the body performs while playing a sport. This year's conference hosts 250 people from 28 countries and it's a way for sports biomechanic researchers and teachers to bounce new ideas off one another.

It's the first time the conference is in the southeastern part of the United States.

Conference host Kimi Sato tells News 5 it's an honor for ETSU to be given this opportunity.

"We placed a bid with about 50 pages worth of information about the Tri-Cities and what we can offer from the educational standpoint and also from a cultural standpoint," adds Sato.

Sato says he looks forward to introducing the programs they have at ETSU to people from around the world while showing off the area.

"When we get all these people in we want to offer the academic information but also we want to display the Tri-Cities area," adds Sato.

And Philip says he looks forward to his next visit.

"I love America. It's great," laughs Philip.

Sato also tells News 5 the ETSU Olympic Training Center played a big reason in why they were picked as this year's host. The conference runs through Wednesday at the Millennium Centre.